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Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
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12 Aug, 9 tweets, 11 min read
Lots of questions about best #masks for kids at school. Practical answer: highest quality, tightest fit they will *wear*

No one answer, resources to consider as you look; short thread. #MaskUp #KidsMasks #MasksInSchools

(1/x) This by @CleanAirCrewOrg:
cleanaircrew.org/kids-masks/
2/ Recommendations, with accompanying video + data on #KidsMasks by @masknerd.

Data: drive.google.com/drive/folders/…
Thread w/ links:
Video:
3/ Article by @zoermalin summarizing children's #KN95 masks:
nbcnews.com/shopping/welln…
4/ Article by @ChristinaSzal via @wirecutter on childrens' #masks:
nytimes.com/wirecutter/rev…
5/ Adult and #ChildrensMasks via @masks4allCanada:
canadastrongmasks.ca/collections/ca…
6/ Thread by @LazarusLong13 (& mining tweet discussion initiated by @kprather88) collecting various Twitter suggestions about #KidsMasks:
7/ Other tweets from people you may want to follow for updates about #KidsMasks, #BetterMasks:
@meganranney:
@projectn95:
@linseymarr & @ajprussin:
@DrEricDing:
8/ A parent testimonial on fit & comfort of the Flo Mask #elastomeric respirator by @samipetersen8 via @LazarusLong13 (FYI: I'm not endorsing & have no conflict of interest, just for public health). More $, but an option.

Online: flomask.com
9/ As briefly forecasted above, aerosol scientists/engineers @ajprussin & @linseymarr put together a very nice, updatable Google doc w/ overview information about #kidmasks & a list of high-quality kid-size #masks, including data on filtration efficiency.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…

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More from @HuffmanLabDU

Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
13 Aug
Feeling helpless as a parent, trying to work w/ school guidance based on @CDPHE rec's that are often vague or misunderstand aerosol science (i.e. no mention of #lunch air risk; says misnomer AGPs esp. risky)

Could *someone* here ask an airborne scientist?
covid19.colorado.gov/practical-guid…
The struggle is a circle: Colorado (@CDPHE) bases guidance on @CDCgov, which is still mo's behind & catching up to an accurate understanding of airborne virus spread.

School district guided by state. So to get local school to budge, need CDC to improve. So, as a parent ... ?
The best #CDC guidance I found (from Aug. 5 👇) on #school meals or #lunch is vague and doesn't get at the real problem -- which is that when people take off #masks (when eating, esp. when sitting really close), exposure increases.
cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…
Read 7 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
11 Aug
A 🧵 to counter some confusing messages about masks & wildfire smoke (1/x)

1. High-quality masks (i.e. #N95) best for both viral aerosol + #wildfire smoke
2. N95s readily available & should be used for both
3. But other masks can provide non-zero benefit
denverpost.com/2021/08/10/wil…
2/ The #CDC and #EPA both strongly recommend upgraded masks (respirators) like #N95 or #KN95 to protect against wildfire smoke. I totally agree (unless using something even better like N99 or elastomeric), b/c these filter the smallest particles very well.
cdc.gov/disasters/covi…
3/ But the #CDC also says not to use N95s, b/c they "should be reserved for health care workers." I totally disagree, as do countless others, b/c supply chain problems in 2020 have recovered in the US.

Follow @projectn95 & see resources to easily buy.
projectn95.org
Read 15 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
11 Aug
This interview with @mtosterholm is 🔥. One of the clearest & most succinctly accurate 6-min summaries of where we are with Delta/COVID mitigation, masks, & vax (best part starts at 1:30).

#VaxUp #BetterMasks #N95 #MasksInSchools
A few quotes below. h/t @PPEtoheros, @citlanx
"This virus is an #aerosol. It’s transmitted in the air, just like we see with cigarette smoke. If you’re in a room and you have a covering on your face and you can smell* the smoke, then you know you’re also getting virus in there if in fact you had an infected person in there."
* (Editorial comment on the smoke smell comment. Aerosols in smoke come out as a concentrated plume, waft through the air, & build-up indoors. But the smell is from the gases & can go through masks, whereas aerosols are blocked. Good visual analogy, but it breaks down at smell).
Read 7 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
22 Jul
I keep thinking about articles discussing importance of being both #VaxxedAndMasked. Some comments via 🧵. (1/x)

Data shows:
✔️ Vax safe & wildly effective
✔️ No vax 100% (think raincoat or sunscreen)
✔️ Masks very effective
✔️ Both help indiv & public health
✔️ Delta is a beast
2/ Through hard work we know:
✔️ COVID could spread by several routes
✔️ Airborne aerosols likely to be a critically important piece of that spread
✔️ We can reduce w/ masks, distancing, reducing #SharedAir
✔️ Vax reduces number & severity of infections
thelancet.com/journals/lance…
3/ So if the only factor (indiv or collectively) is to provide the best protection, the answer is clearly to #VaxUp ASAP & to still #MaskUp in crowds or indoors w/ anyone who is unvaxxed. Delta is dangerous & many not yet protected.
Read 17 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
21 Jul
Why should vaccinated people wear masks? Seven points outlined by @Bob_Wachter in article by @amyjeangraff & in 🧵 with his reasoning below.

I'm still very careful about taking off my #N95 mask in mixed settings & support #mask mandates for schools.
sfgate.com/bayarea/articl…
1) The rate of breakthrough infections is small but very real.
2) The rate of breakthrough infections with delta is likely somewhat higher than with the original virus; this number is still being debated.
3) Delta might be more likely to lead to a serious infection than the original virus.
4) Though the chances of long COVID with a breakthrough infection seem to be low, there is no rigorous evidence on this & we certainly have seen mild primary infections cause prolonged symptoms.
Read 6 tweets
Dr. Alex Huffman Profile picture
21 Jul
Should you still wear a #mask, even if you're vaxxed?

Answer isn't just about science, but also your risk tolerance & philosophy of humans. Nice overview by @olgakhazan w/ (contrasting) comments below by Profs @linseymarr @cmyeaton @j_g_allen @ashishkjha
theatlantic.com/politics/archi…
"According to Rivers, the vaccinated should keep masking indoors in these places until children under the age of 12 can get vaccinated. 'I don’t think we should give up on mitigation until we can offer kids the same protection afforded to everyone else,' says @cmyeaton."
"Though your heart might not break for your local anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists, 2 - 4% of American adults are immunocompromised, which means the COVID-19 vaccines do not work as well for them. By masking, you are ... also protecting kids & the immunocompromised." @olgakhazan
Read 8 tweets

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